Optical disk storage case

ABSTRACT

An optical disk storage case, which is formed integrally in a single body, has an upper case, a lower case, and at least three fasteners. The upper case and the lower case are connected side-by-side via a flexible connecting part. The upper case has a plurality of retaining pieces. The lower case has a plurality of hollow positioning plugs placed in a manner so as to be correspondingly received by the retaining pieces for firmly retaining the positioning plugs. The fasteners are spaced and correspondingly arranged on the first and second edges parallel to the connecting part. An increased amount of optical disks is therefore safely placed in the optical disk storage case.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to an optical disk storage case and, more particularly, to an optical disk storage case that can hold an increased amount of optical disks for convenient carrying.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Optical recording media such as CDs, LDs, VCDs and DVDs are commonly used to store a large amount of digital data. A conventional storage case in which the optical medium is placed includes a case body and a cover pivotally connected to each other in order to access to the optical recording medium. However, the conventional storage case can accommodate only one optical recording medium.

[0005] A conventional optical disk collector 1 a cylindrically shaped to receive a plurality of optical disks is known in the art. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the optical disk collector includes a disk-base 10 a and a cover 11 a snapped onto to the disk base 10 a via at least one clamping member 16 a. A positioning plug 12 a is formed on a central portion of the disk base 10 a, through which the optical disks (not shown) are inserted. A flange 13 a is formed along a periphery of the disk base 10 a to further position the optical disks. At least one first fastener 14 a is formed on the disk base 10 a outside the flange 13 a. The cover 1 a has an accommodating space 15 a for accommodating the optical disks. At least one second fastener 16 a is formed at an outer periphery of the cover 11 a. When the cover 11 a comes in contact with the disk base 10 a, a further relative rotation has the first fastener 14 a and the second fastener 16 a correspondingly snap fit with each other. Thereby, the optical disks are safely placed inside the optical disk collector 1 a.

[0006] The maximum amount of optical disk that can be placed inside the optical disk collector 1 a is determined by the height of the positioning plug 12 a. An optical disk collector with an excessive height is not convenient for carrying. Furthermore, the fastening of the cover 11 a with the disk base 10 a by the snapping force of the fasteners 14 a, 16 a may insufficient, especially for a large amount of optical disks.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0007] It is therefore one object of the invention to provide an optical disk storage case that can receive an increased amount of optical disks in a limited space for convenient carrying.

[0008] To accomplish the above and other objectives, an optical disk storage case, which can be formed integrally in a single body, includes an upper case, a lower case and at least three fasteners. The upper case is covered with a first lid having a first edge along one periphery thereof. A plurality of retaining pieces is formed on the upper case. The lower case has substantially the same shape and size as the upper case. The lower case is covered with a second lid having a second edge that is connected to the first edge of the upper case via a flexible connecting part. A plurality of hollow positioning plugs is formed on the lower case in a manner so as to be correspondingly received by the retaining pieces for firmly retaining the positioning plugs. The fasteners are spaced and correspondingly arranged on the first and second edges parallel to the connecting part. Each fastener includes a first fastening member and a second fastening member arranged on the upper and lower cases.

[0009] To provide a further understanding of the invention, the following detailed description illustrates embodiments and examples of the invention, this detailed description being provided only for illustration of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The drawings included herein provide a further understanding of the invention. A brief introduction of the drawings is as follows:

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional optical disk collector;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an optical disk storage case in an unfolded position according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an optical disk storage case in a folded position according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0014]FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the use of an optical disk storage case in an unfolded position according to one embodiment of the invention; and

[0015]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an optical disk storage case in a folded position according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Wherever possible in the following description, like reference numerals will refer to like elements and parts unless otherwise illustrated.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an optical disk storage case in an unfolded position according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an optical disk storage case in a folded position according to one embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the optical disk storage case 1, which can be formed integrally in a single body, includes an upper case 10, a lower case 11, and at least three fasteners 12. One side of the upper case 10 is connected to the lower case 11 via a flexible connecting part 13.

[0018] The upper case 10 is covered with a substantially quadrilateral first lid having a first edge 100 along one periphery to define a first accommodating space 101. The upper case 10 has, for example, an A4 size. A plurality of retaining pieces 102, for example, four retaining pieces 102 in this embodiment, is formed on the upper case 10 in the accommodating space 101.

[0019] The lower case 11 has substantially the same shape and size as the upper case 10. The lower case 11 is covered with a second lid having a second edge 110 to define a second accommodating space 111. At least one CD, LD, VCD or DVD can be placed in the second accommodating space 111, as shown in FIG. 4. A plurality of hollow positioning plugs 112, for example four positioning plugs 112 in this embodiment, are formed on the lower case 11 in the second accommodating space 111 in a manner so as to be correspondingly received by the retaining pieces 102 for firm retention of the positioning plugs 12. The positioning plugs 112 and the retaining pieces 102 are respectively arranged in alternating manner so that the A4-size optical disk storage case can receive more optical disks.

[0020] The first edge 100 of the upper case 10 is connected to the second edge 110 of the lower case 11 via the connecting part 13. The elastic force of the connecting part 13 allows relative turning of the upper and lower cases 10, 11 to fold/unfold the optical disk storage case 1.

[0021] The fasteners 12 fasten the upper case 10 with the lower case 11 to prevent the optical disks 2 inside the case 1 from dropping out. The fasteners 12 are spaced and correspondingly arranged on the first and second edges parallel to the connecting part 13. As shown in FIG. 3, each fastener 12 includes a first fastening member 120 and a second fastening member 121 respectively arranged on the first edge 100 and the second edge 110, or vice versa. The first fastening member 120 is formed integrally with the second edge 110 (or the first edge 100) and provided with a snapping piece 122 capable of slightly turning. The second fastening member 121 is formed on the first edge 100 (or the second edge 110) with a recess portion. A notch 123 is formed in the recess portion to snap fit with the snapping piece 122 so that the upper case 10 and the lower case 11 are firmly held. Thereby, the optical disk storage case 1 of the invention is accomplished.

[0022] As seen by reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, with an alternating arrangement, more than one positioning plug 112 can be accommodated inside the optical disk storage case 1. Therefore the optical disks 2 can be collected without increasing the height of the positioning plug 112.

[0023] The optical disk storage case can be further provided with a handle (not shown) thereon to allow the user to carry it conveniently. The handle is preferably outwardly formed on an external edge of the optical disk storage case 1 opposite the connecting part 13 so that the optical disks are not likely to fall out when the user carries the case.

[0024] As described above, the optical disk storage case of the invention can hold more optical disks and can be more firmly fastened in comparison with the prior art.

[0025] It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above description is only illustrative of specific embodiments and examples of the invention. The invention should therefore cover various modifications and variations made to the herein-described structure and operations of the invention, provided they fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the following appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An optical disk storage case, being formed integrally in a single body, the optical disk storage comprising: a upper case, having an A4 size and covered with a first lid having a first edge along a periphery of the lid, wherein a plurality of retaining pieces is formed on the upper case; a lower case, having substantially a same shape and size as the upper case, wherein the lower case is covered with a second lid having a second edge connected to the first edge of the upper case via a flexible connecting part, and a plurality of hollow positioning plugs are formed on the lower case in a manner so as to be correspondingly received by the retaining pieces for firmly retaining the positioning plugs; and at least three fasteners, spaced and correspondingly arranged on the first and second edges parallel to the connecting part, wherein each fastener includes a first fastening member and a second fastening member arranged on the upper and lower cases.
 2. The optical disk storage case of claim 1, wherein the first and second lids are substantially quadrilateral.
 3. The optical disk storage case of claim 1, wherein the positioning plugs are arranged in an alternating manner.
 4. The optical disk storage case of claim 1, wherein the first fastening member and the second fastening member are respectively arranged on the first edge and the second edge.
 5. The optical disk storage case of claim 1, wherein the first fastening member and the second fastening member are respectively arranged on the second edge and the first edge.
 6. The optical disk storage case of claim 1, wherein the first fastening member is provided with a snapping piece, and the second fastening member is provided with a notch to snap fit with the snapping piece.
 7. The optical disk storage case of claim 1, further comprising a handle formed on the optical disk case.
 8. The optical disk storage case of claim 7, wherein a handle is outwardly formed on an external edge of the optical disk storage case and opposite the connecting part. 